Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 284, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1913 — JUDGE LANDIS HALTS COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT [ARTICLE]

JUDGE LANDIS HALTS COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT

Appoints New Attorneys to Look After Interests of Mother of Soldier Killed by Train. Several weeks ago Edward Panek, a soldier, was killed on a troop train in Mississippi. His mother, who lives in Chicago, brought action against the railroad and an attorney named Smejkal represented her. Monday the lawyer and the attorney for the railroad came into court all primed to settle the case for $750, of which the lawyer was to get $250. The ignorant mother was ready to accept the settlement on recommendation of her attorney. Judge Kenesaw M. Landis was on the bench. He objected to the settlement, saying that a soldier’s life was worth more than $750 and he said some things to the lawyer that were net very complimentary and took the case out of his hands and placed it in the care of two othetoAttorneys. He said he was not willing to see so small a payment made to a poor and dependent mother and then see some lawyer take a third of it as his fee. The railroad then objected to Mr. Landis hearing the case but he refused to let it pass from his court. "Tt has. often been charged that many damage suits in Chicago are compromised in just this maißier. The lawyer for the plaintiff stands in with the defendant company and accepts any sort of a compromise. Judge Landis deserves credit for his action in spoiling a game that looked had to say the least.